Difference between revisions of "Basic comparisons with "bi""

Line 38: Line 38:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 她 <em>比</em> 我 <strong>大</strong> 。<span class="trans">She is older than me.</span>
+
* 她 <em>比</em> 我 <strong>大</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǐ </em> wǒ <strong>dà </strong>.</span><span class="trans">She is older than me.</span>
* 我 <em>比</em> 你 <strong>胖</strong> 。<span class="trans">I'm fatter than you.</span>
+
* 我 <em>比</em> 你 <strong>胖</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bǐ </em> nǐ <strong>pàng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm fatter than you.</span>
* 美国 <em>比</em> 英国 <strong>大</strong> 。<span class="trans">The U.S. is bigger than the U.K.</span>
+
* 美国 <em>比</em> 英国 <strong>大</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Měiguó <em>bǐ </em> Yīngguó <strong>dà </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The U.S. is bigger than the U.K.</span>
* 这 个 地方 <em>比</em> 那 个 地方 <strong>好</strong> 。<span class="trans">This place is better than that place.</span>
+
* 这 个 地方 <em>比</em> 那 个 地方 <strong>好</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè dìfāng <em>bǐ </em> nàgè dìfāng <strong>hǎo </strong>.</span><span class="trans">This place is better than that place.</span>
* 纽约 <em>比</em> 上海 <strong>冷</strong> 。<span class="trans">New York is colder than Shanghai.</span>
+
* 纽约 <em>比</em> 上海 <strong>冷</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Niǔyuē <em>bǐ </em> Shànghǎi <strong>lěng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">New York is colder than Shanghai.</span>
* 咖啡 <em>比</em> 茶 <strong>苦</strong> 。<span class="trans">Coffee is more bitter than tea.</span>
+
* 咖啡 <em>比</em> 茶 <strong>苦</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Kāfēi <em>bǐ </em> chá <strong>kǔ </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Coffee is more bitter than tea.</span>
* 鱼 <em>比</em> 猪肉 <strong>好吃</strong> 。<span class="trans">Fish tastes better than pork.</span>
+
* 鱼 <em>比</em> 猪肉 <strong>好吃</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Yú <em>bǐ </em> zhūròu <strong>hào chī </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Fish tastes better than pork.</span>
* 伦敦 的 房子 <em>比</em> 上海 的 <strong>贵</strong> 。<span class="trans">The apartments in London are more expensive than in Shanghai.</span>
+
* 伦敦 的 房子 <em>比</em> 上海 的 <strong>贵</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Lúndūn de fángzi <em>bǐ </em> Shànghǎi de <strong>guì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The apartments in London are more expensive than in Shanghai.</span>
* 上海 <em>比</em> 别 的 城市 <strong>方便</strong> 。<span class="trans">Shanghai is more convenient than other cities.</span>
+
* 上海 <em>比</em> 别 的 城市 <strong>方便</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>bǐ </em> bié de chéngshì <strong>fāngbiàn </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Shanghai is more convenient than other cities.</span>
* 中文 <em>比</em> 英语 <strong>有意思</strong> 。<span class="trans">Chinese is more interesting than English.</span>
+
* 中文 <em>比</em> 英语 <strong>有意思</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngwén <em>bǐ </em> Yīngyǔ <strong>yǒuyìsi </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Chinese is more interesting than English.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 10:40, 25 October 2014

Also known as: 比字句 (bǐ zì jù).

One of the most common ways of comparing things in Chinese is to use 比 (bǐ).

Basic Pattern Using 比

You could think of 比 (bǐ) as meaning "than," except that it sits between the two things being compared. The word order will take a little getting used to, but aside from that, the pattern is quite easy.

Structure

To say that one thing is more adjective than another, the structure is:

Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adjective

The noun that's placed first is the one that comes out on top in the comparison. So in the sentence:

  • 小李 小张 Xiǎo Lǐ Xiǎo Zhāng gāo .Xiao Li is taller than Xiao Zhang.

小李 (Xiǎo lǐ) is taller. The same situation could be described as

  • 小张 小李 Xiǎo Zhāng Xiǎo Lǐ ǎi .Xiao Zhang is smaller than Xiao Li.

Examples

  • .She is older than me.
  • pàng .I'm fatter than you.
  • 美国 英国 Měiguó Yīngguó .The U.S. is bigger than the U.K.
  • 这 个 地方 那 个 地方 Zhè gè dìfāng nàgè dìfāng hǎo .This place is better than that place.
  • 纽约 上海 Niǔyuē Shànghǎi lěng .New York is colder than Shanghai.
  • 咖啡 Kāfēi chá .Coffee is more bitter than tea.
  • 猪肉 好吃 zhūròu hào chī .Fish tastes better than pork.
  • 伦敦 的 房子 上海 的 Lúndūn de fángzi Shànghǎi de guì .The apartments in London are more expensive than in Shanghai.
  • 上海 别 的 城市 方便Shànghǎi bié de chéngshì fāngbiàn .Shanghai is more convenient than other cities.
  • 中文 英语 有意思Zhōngwén Yīngyǔ yǒuyìsi .Chinese is more interesting than English.

Common Errors

Try not to make these mistakes:

The adjective used in the comparison should be positive, not negative.

  • 不 聪明I than you not smarter. (incorrect)
  • 聪明You are smarter than me. (correct)
  • I am dumber than you. (correct)

比 (bǐ) is not used with 一样 (yīyàng). 比 (bǐ) is used when two things are not the same.

  • 一样 聪明I than you the same smart. (incorrect)
  • 一样 聪明I am as smart as you. (correct)

Pattern Using 比 and 更

This one is just a slight upgrade of the basic 比 (bǐ) comparison pattern, adding in 更 (gèng) before the adjective. 更 (gèng) means "even more," so the idea is that while one thing is already quite [adjective], this other thing is even more [adjective]. Pretty simple!

Structure

Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 + Adjective

The only new thing here is the addition of 更 (gèng) before the adjective.

  • 小李 小张 更 高Xiao Li is even taller than Xiao Zhang.

The implication is that while Xiao Zhang is tall, 小李 (Xiǎo lǐ) is even taller.

Examples

  • 更 大She is even older than me.
  • 更 胖I'm even fatter than you.
  • 美国 英国 更 大The U.S. is even bigger than the U.K.
  • 这 个 地方 那 个 地方 更 好This place is even better than that place.
  • 你 妈妈 更 漂亮 You are prettier than your mom.
  • iPhone iPad 更 贵iPhone is more expensive than iPad.
  • 中文 法语 更 难Chinese is more difficult than French.
  • 海南 香港 更 热Hainan is hotter than Hong Kong.
  • 我 现在 以前 更 开心I am happier now than before.
  • 我 的 钱 你 的钱 更 多I have more money than you.

See Also

Finally, to express "not as... as," use 没有, and to express "not more... than" use 不比 (the negative cousin of 比).

Check these elementary comparison patterns out as well:

When you're read for more, we also have a good overview of comparisons in Mandarin Chinese which spans all levels.

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites